The Sundial

John Charlock has risen from poverty to become a celebrated portrait painter, his talent finally earning him the fame and wealth he once only dreamed of. Yet beneath the glittering studio and the admiration of patrons lies a life haunted by loss: his young son’s sudden death has left him adrift, and the distance between him and his wife, Kate, widens with each unspoken word. As John wrestles with grief and a lingering sense of guilt, he confronts the stark contrast between his public success and the private emptiness that now fills his home.

The novel follows John’s uneasy attempts to reconcile his artistic ambition with the fragile bonds of family. Through quiet, often painful moments, he must decide whether to confront the truth that has been hidden in the shadows of his studio, or to let the silence consume the remnants of his once‑bright future.